Potatoes can easily be stored for several months - really? Nowadays very few people have a cool storage cellar in which they can optimally store the starchy tubers. However, there are some alternatives for short-term storage.
Potatoes can be stored well covered in a box
What storage conditions do potatoes like?
Potatoes are best stored in a dark room with cool temperatures in which no moisture accumulates. The potatoes are best stored there in jute bags or wooden crates, as the air can circulate in them.
Why…
- … dark? When potatoes are stored in contact with light, they produce the toxic substance solanine. Affected potatoes can be recognized by their green color. The green parts of the potatoes must not be eaten.
- … cool? If the temperature is too high, potatoes will quickly begin to shrivel because they lose a lot of moisture. In addition, they germinate. However, too cold is not an option either: At temperatures below 4 °C, the tubers convert their starch into sugar, which leads to an unpleasantly sweet taste. The perfect storage temperature for potatoes is between 4°C and 10°C.
- … dry and well ventilated? Potatoes begin to mold if the humidity is too high or if they are stored on the damp basement floor. After harvesting, they must dry well before being stored. Good ventilation of the storage room and the storage containers ensures that it does not get too damp.
Alternatives to storage in the storage cellar
The above conditions prevail in storage cellars, as almost every house used to have. Today, thanks to improved insulation, this has become rare; In addition, having your own basement is not a matter of course. You can still offer your potatoes good storage conditions with the following alternatives:
The perfect technical solution: the cellar compartment in the refrigerator
Some modern refrigerators have a so-called cellar compartment. The conditions inside are like those in a cool storage cellar. You can regulate the temperature to suit your needs and always keep your potatoes within easy reach in the kitchen.
Insulated box on the balcony
If you have a balcony or terrace, you can store your potatoes in a wooden crate outside. To mitigate temperature fluctuations and keep out the cold in winter, stuff in plenty of straw, place the potatoes on top, and then cover again with straw before closing the box.
Covered in the pantry
Not ideal, but possible: the potatoes will keep for a few weeks in an unheated pantry if you cover them with a jute sack (€10.99) or paper to protect them from light.
Fridge: yes or no?
Potatoes should only be kept in the refrigerator for a short time. On the one hand, the tubers soon begin to mold because there is no air circulation. On the other hand, it easily happens that the temperature in the refrigerator is too low and the potatoes lose their good taste.
Ideally, buy potatoes as needed or harvest just before use, while temperatures allow.
The garden journal freshness ABC
How can fruit and vegetables be stored correctly so that they stay fresh for as long as possible?
The garden journal freshness ABC as a poster:
- as a free PDF file to print out yourself